Take-off and landing platform for aeroplanes



May 5, 1931.

M. J. ofNElLL TAKE-OFF AND LANDING PLATFORM FOR AEROPLANES Filed Sept. 28. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet- 1 fill/[lili i il@ 6 E @N n0 n IJ d m H w May 5, 1931. M. J. o'NElLL 1,803,507

' TKEOFF AND LANDING PLATFORM FOR AEROPLNES Filed Sept. 28, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wvg i Umm I HV t Il *VY Y AQ Y N v Ogg@ May 5, 1931. M. J. vo'lmalu. 1,803,507

TAKE-OFF AND LANDING PLATFORM FOR AEROPLANES Filed sept. 2a. i928 s sheets-sheep s Im/erifor fz'ede/ d.' 4011677Z www Patented May 5, 1931 IKIHAEL J'. ONEILL, 0F GHICAGO, ILLINOIS TAKE-OFF .AND LANDING PLATFORM FOR AEBOPLLN vapplauso ma september n, ms. semi no. soaoaa.

This invention pertains to the provision lof a novel take olf and landing eld for heavier-'than air flying machines, and resides particularly in the provision of a novel plat- I, form arrangement having means therein for l normally necessitatesl the employment ofV retarding the velocityv of an aeroplane.

It is a purpose of this invention to eliminate the len Yhy run down a landing field or runway, w en taking 0E or landing, which large acreage of land for landing fields. .l

In the employment of this novel device,

it is ossible for a heavier than air vflying machine to take off from or land upon a com- 15. paratively small landing field or platform,

this being particularlyadapted for use in crowded cities or aboard ship.

The novel take off and landing platform, as illustrated in the various figures in the drawings, preferabl has rollers or treadmills mounted in rames, said rollers or "tread-mills being capable of being rotated yin a direction-opposite to, and at a speed equivalent' of that normally attainedl by a flying machine before it has gained sufficient velocity to leave the ground.

It is to provide a take off platform of this novel type, that the present invention has been devised, and one of the ob]ects of this invention resides in the provision of an improved take olf field or platform having meansA mounted therein which will reduce the usual lengthy run down a field to allow the` iying machine to gain sullicient velocity to take to the air.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel landing field for arresting the forward `motion of a flying machine when it lands, thereby materially reducing the amount of taxiing usually re-- quired. l

Another object 0f the invention pertains to the provision of a novel landing field so constructed to withstand rough usage and require practically little maintenance.

These and such other objects as will ap'- pear hereinafter as the description proceeds will be more readily understood from a perusal of the following specification, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings, in w ich:

Figure 1` is a central longitudinal .sec-Y tional view through the platforms ofthe improved landing and take off field showing a fra ment of an aeroplane positioned thereon.

igure 2 is a plan view of the landing field shown in Fig. 1.`

Fi ure '3 is. a transversesectional elevationa view through one of the roller shafts,

taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4.- is a plan view similar to Fig. 2, showing another form of the invention.v

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one end of the landing and take oif field shown in Fig. 4, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4,. l

igure 6 is a side elevational view showing one of the improved platforms, mountdlm springs for effecting resiliency to the Referrin to the form of invention as shown in igures 1, 2, and 3 inclusive, the improvedlanding or take off field preferably includes a pair of rectangular frame members 11 and 12. The forward frame member ll is preferably divided into two sections 13 and 14 to provide mountin means for a pair of landing and take oil' p atforms, but this division may be dispensed with if desired and one large platform substituted therefor. The frame members 11 and 12 are shown as being formed or built up of channel iron, but itis to be understood that any suitable material, which will give the necessary strength to the frame members, such as heavy timber, iron bars, etc., may be' employed. Each frame member is provided with a plurality of transverse shafts 15 rotatably mounted in roller bearingsl 16 provided on the side walls of the frames. i

Shafts 15 are of large diameter and each is provided with a plurality of rollers 17, said rollers being keyed' on their respective shafts by keys 18 and being spaced a suitable distance apart to provide, in effect, grooves 19 extending longitudinal of the frame. Although cast iron rollers 17, having a central web and a relatively wide Harige, are shown in the drawings any other suitable type of roller may be employed.

As clearl shown in Figures 1 and 2, the plurality o transverse shafts 15, having the 5 rollers 17 mounted thereon, form platforms within the frames 11 and 12 u on which the front and rear wheels 21 of a ying machine 22 may rest. Upon taking off, the rollers .17 are positively rotated in a counter-clockwise direction when the propeller motor 1n the aeroplane is started, the speed of these rollers being gradually increased as the revolutions of the propeller increase. The reverse motion of the rollers 17, or platform formed thereby, will have an effect upon the flying machine of tending to drag or carry it rearwardly against the forward impelling force created by the propeller.

lVhen a speed is attained by the propeller suilicient to normally cause the flying machine to leave the ground, the rollers 17 are quickly brought to rest, thereby permitting the flying machine to move forward under its own power. It is desirable, but not es- 25 sential, that the velocity of the propeller at this time be sufficient to lift the machine so that it leaves the ground almost immediatel upon leaving the platform, however a sliort run down a runway may be made, said run being considerably shorter than that now necessary when taking off'.

To rotate the plurality of rollers 17 in unison, chains 23 are provided, which are trained over suitable sprockets 24, two of which are shown secured on each shaft 15 adjacent their end.

A motor 27, of any suitable type, is preferably provided for furnishing the drlving means for the three sets of roller platforms.

Y0 Although the motor may be located at any suitable point in the vicinity of the platforms, it is desirable that said motor be placed in a position where it will not interfere with or obstruct the landing field. To

this end the motor 27 is located on a suitable foundation in a pit 28 provided therefor between the front and rear frames 11 and 12. This pit, while being shown open in Figures 2 and 4 is preferably provided with a suitable covering, such as planking 29 (Figure 1), or if desired reinforced concrete may be used to provide an unbroken surface between the two platforms.

Mounted on the drive shaft 31 of the motor 27 is a gear 32, said gear driving an auxiliary shaft 33 located adjacent same through a train of gears 34. The ratio of these gears is such as t'o rotate the auxiliary shaft 31 at a high rate of speed.

50 A lurality of sprockets 35 and 36 are keyed? or otherwise secured on the shaft 33, the sprockets 35 having chains 37 operatively connecting them with sprockets secured on the rearmost shaft 15a of the front platform, The shaft' 15a preferably extends across both platforms 13 and 14 to insure uniform rotation of the rollers mounted therein.

Chains 38 operatively connect the sprockets 36 with sprocket wheels secured on the forward shaft 15b of the rear platform 12 for driving the rollers mounted therein. To reduce the sag normally present in a chain of this length, tension rollers or supports 39 are provided.

When bringing the rollers 17, forming the platforms, to a stop it is necessary to bring them to rest as rapidly as possible and to provide adequate means for accomplishing this, a brake drum 4l of usual construction is provided, said brake being mounted on the drive shaft 31. The reason for mounting the brake 41 on the drive shaft is to provide for the braking of the rollers 17 through the gearing 34, thus greatly increasing the braking power upon the platforms.

The form of invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 is similar in all respects to that previously described, it being driven through gears andA chains, as in the revious form, the difference residing whol y in the construction of the landing or take 0E platforms.

As shown, this form consists of an elongated fraine member 13a being divided into two similar sections by a pair of centrally located dividing bars 42 mounted therein, and having rollers 43 mounted in each section, one being located near each end and a third preferably located midway the ends of said frame. Each of these rollers is provided with a plurality of sprockets 44 formed integral therewith; four such sprockets being shown in the drawing. A plurality of endless chains 45 are trained over these sprockets, said chains carrying a plurality of connecting slates or cross bars 46 which serve to provide a platform in the form of an endless belt, the width of the frame member. This endless belt serves as an adequate support for a flying machine.

When the power unit 27 is in operation, these two endless belts move rearwardly, thereby serving `to hold a flying machine positioned thereon back against the forward impelling force created by the rotation of the propeller. To eliminate the possibility of the flying machine sliding laterally when landing on the platform, each slate 46 is provided with suitable lugs or ridges 47 spaced equidistant apart throughout their length. As clearly shown in the drawing, these Oifsets 47 align with the offsets on the adjacent slates, thereby forming, in effect, raceways or tracks for the wheels 19 of the flying inachine.

To prevent the sagging of chain platform due to\\'the tremendous weight of a flying machine, it is necessary to provide suitable supporting means'for theendless belt or tread mill. In this form a plurality of rollers 48 are mounted in the side members of the frames and extend transversely beneath the chains, said rollers being spaced apart a suitable distance.

While it is preferableto have the platforms rigidly mounted on its foundatlons, there might be advisable in some instances to provide resilient means for mounting these elements so as to reduce the strain and jar imposed on the iying machine when landing. One method of accomplishing this end has been shown in Fig. 6, wherein springs 51 are located at each corner of the frame members.

In the drawing semi-elliptical leaf springs 51 are shown, but it is to be understood that any approved means may be employed to provide a resilient/ mounting for the platorms.

Although I have shown and described several exemplications of my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of embodying certain modifications and variations without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. f 'y/ I claim:

1. In combination with an article of the class described, a frame; a plurality of rotatable shafts mounted in said frame transverse of its length; a plurality of s aced rollers keyed to each of said shafts, t e rollers on adjacent shafts being aligned with each other; and means common to all of said shafts whereby they may be rotatedin unison.

2. In combination with an article of the class described, a frame; a plurality of rotatable shafts mounted in sald frame transverse of its length; a plurality of spaced rollers keyed to each of said shafts, the rollers on adjacent shafts being aligned with each other; and means common to all of said shafts for rotating them in a counter-clockwise direction in unison. A

3. In an article of the character described, a frame having a platform mounted therein comprising, in combination; a plurality of shafts rotatably mounted in said' frame;

rollers mounted on said shafts, said rollers being spaced a art; and the rollers on the adjacent shafts eing in alignment with each, other to provide a plurality of grooves overl the entire length of said platform.

In testimony whereof I aiix my si ature at 10 South LaSalle Street Chicago, llinois.

MICHAEL J. oNEILL. 

